By REV. J. COLQUIOUN, Glendale, Skye.
(Continued from page 174.)
Christ’s true disciples have to bear His reproach when the vanities of the world are preferred to Him. Before Pilate the cry of the Jews was, “Not this man but Barabbas,” showing the fearful choice which they made. Men and women in Christian lands are still making that choice. The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is in our day stretching forth His hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people. His gracious and numerous invitations, His full and soul-enriching promises, and His solemn and awe-inspiring threatenings are alike disregarded, while the world with its empty and fleeting vanities is embraced with delight, so that, with few exceptions, these vanities are worshipped by the whole world, as was claimed for Diana of the Ephesians. These few exceptions, being still left in such a world as that, must bear the reproach of Christ. Because they prefer His fellowship to what the world has to give they are cried down as narrow-minded, bigoted antediluvians who are opposed to progress and devoid of charity, the enemies of mankind and the murderers of innocent joy. Through them the Christian religion is branded as something evil which causes misery and bondage, and which is quite unsuited for men and women who are healthy in mind and body. When true and vital godliness is thus caricatured, it is only those who are enabled to draw out of the fullness that is in Christ Jesus who will go without the camp, bearing His reproach, but under such circumstances these do go out, and the history of the Church of Christ furnishes many bright examples of men and women who could say with the Psalmist, “I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”
The true Christian has to meet, not only with open hostility to the Cause of Christ, but also with much of what may be called “secret intrigue.” In the Word of God we read that many are gathered against Zion and that their language is, “Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.” Some, who profess the Christian religion, are drawn together by a variety of causes, perhaps too numerous to be mentioned. It is natural that they should exchange views and as they gain each other’s confidence they become less cautious in their criticisms of their fellow Christians until the most of those who are outside their own circle are looked upon as hypocrites who ought never to be making a profession of religion. So persuaded are they of the truth of their own opinions that each member of this secret coterie make it their business to impart their views to as many as they can gain access to, with the result that in a longer or shorter time they draw after themselves a considerable following, and it only requires some action on the part of one or more who are recognised as leaders, or to whom they attach themselves as followers, to make it very evident that many are involved in this secret intrigue. Under such circumstances, those who oppose them, be they ever so noted for their piety or faithfulness to God’s Word or the subordinate standards of their denomination, are branded as men who should not be listened to. Much of this the true Christian will meet with in bearing the reproach of Christ, but he must bear it as part of the “afflictions of the gospel.”
In bearing the reproach of Christ the Lord’s true people suffer much from the tongue of the wicked. Of Jeremiah it was said, “Come, let us devise devices against Jeremiah. . . ; Come, let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” Their character is often assailed, and they are treated as if they were unfit to be associated with by respectable people. The Psalmist could say, “Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us” (Psalm xlv, 13). In this they see reason to be cast down and disquieted in soul, yet they are made willing to go steadfastly on their way bearing the reproach of Christ, and although it is to them as if broken “in the place of dragons” and covered “with the shadow of death,” yet they will raise appealing eyes to God, saying, “Arise for our help, and redeem us for Thy mercies’ sake.” Enemies may slander them and attach evil motives to their most disinterested actions yet the God with whom they have to do knows all things, and gives strength to bear the reproach of Christ.
The Reward that Follows.
Though it is true that those who bear the reproach of Christ have to meet with much in the world which is hard for flesh and blood to bear, yet many have been found who made choice of bearing this reproach. Of these we have an outstanding example in Moses of whom we read, “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” No doubt men of the world would consider it a very foolish choice. He had the rank of a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and “was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” His attainments and prospects, as far as worldly matters were concerned, were great, but he lightly esteemed them and cast in his lot with a people who were in a state of slavery and an abomination to the Egyptians. In this position of which he made choice he could hope for nothing from the world but afflictions, and to be an object of contempt, yet we read that he esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” The eye of Moses, however, was on the reward given to those who make choice of Christ and the afflictions of His people. This reward may be considered under a two-fold aspect, that is, as it is possessed in time, and as it is possessed beyond death.
Those who are called upon to suffer afflictions in this world for the sake of Christ are mysteriously sustained by Him, so that, while the world is expecting them every moment to be crushed, and they themselves have to confess that they were pressed out of measure, above strength, inasmuch that they despised even of life, they are carried through in the face of many disadvantages and are enabled to surmount many difficulties, so that they can say with the sweet Psalmist of Israel, “I am as a wonder unto many,” but the secret of it all is to be found in the words, “But thou art my strong refuge.” In the midst of their troubles, trials and temptations, the Lord is making a reality to them what was given to the Apostle Paul in his day of need, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Whatever bitterness may be in their cup it is sweetened beyond words by the presence which Moses felt to be so essential that he pled, “If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” In the midst of fiery trials they are not to be despondent but rather to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” They are counted happy who are reproached for the name of Christ, for on such the Spirit of glory and of God rests.
Those who bear the reproach of Christ are supported by the Word of God. They must go to it alone for consolation in all their trials, and it never fails them. It was said to Job, “To which of the saints wilt thou turn,” in order to show how vain it is to trust in a creature, yet, though it would be vain to look to the highest angel in glory for comfort or help, such is not the case where the Word of God is concerned. It is given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost and is, therefore, eminently fitted to give comfort in distress, and much-needed strength in the midst of these trials which the Lord’s people have in going without the camp bearing the reproach of Christ. In that Word Christ Himself says to His people, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.” As they have the testimony of God’s Word they have the support of a good conscience in bearing the reproach of Christ, and that is something worth seeking after. Many desert the Cause of Christ for riches, honours and the applause of men, who in spite of all their efforts to drown the voice of conscience, are tortured on its rack day and night, but not so those who follow Christ. Along with a good conscience they have the support of the prayers of the Lord’s people. The Apostle Paul could say, “Brethren pray for us,” showing clearly, not only how he valued the prayers of the Lord’s people, but also, in bearing the reproach of Christ, he had the support of a good conscience and the witness of God’s Word, for otherwise to solicit the prayers of the Lord’s people is a sure mark of hypocrisy.
It is not merely in this life that those who bear the reproach of Christ have their reward. If it were they would be of all men most miserable. They are to leave this world and, while they are in it, they are, in bearing the reproach of Christ, buoyed up with the hope of a blessed immortality. He has said to them, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.” In that place which He is preparing for them there is a fullness of joy which dissolves into nothingness all the joys of this world, for, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” One moment of that joy and they shall never remember their afflictions except as they will contemplate them in the light of the complete deliverance they obtained from them, and that remembrance will be to the praise and the glory of their Almighty Deliverer. This glory will be the theme of their new song, in which they strike the notes of humble adoration and triumphant praise, as they were never capable of doing in this world. Thus we see that it is well worth bearing the reproach of Christ in this world, for the condition in heaven of those who did so on earth presents to our view a wonderful change from poverty to riches, from afflictions to comfort, from periods of darkness and desertion to beholding eternally the face of Christ, from absence from home to a place in the house of many mansions and from the weariness of their pilgrimage journey to the rest that remains to the people of God.